50 Best-Dressed Men in Britain 2012

This year has seen a real shake-up of the best-dressed list,
with a record number of new entries, as well as a surprising tally
of re-entries. It seems that our judges not only have a new set of
sartorial heroes but have also become aware of recently having
ignored some of their past masters. To be fair, though, far more
than 50 men were nominated by the GQ panel, so the
difference between making the grade and not was barely a handful of
votes.

What hasn't changed about the list is how accurately it reflects
the enormous variety of different styles that make up the
quintessential British look - from the sharpest Savile Row suits to
the hippest hip-hop swagger. That is why the world still looks to
these islands for inspiration - and even an education in what to
wear.

So who has made the grade this year? The new breed of British
actors have taken Hollywood by storm, have won roles as the most
American of superheroes and are winning plaudits for their unique
style that make them some of the most photographed men in the
world. Elsewhere, the British music scene is having an
extraordinary renaissance and the look of its leading lights is
celebrated far beyond these shores. As ever, there is always room
for that great British talent for quirk - who couldn't say that the
likes of Jarvis Cocker make the world a more
interesting place to look at? And the Brits are brilliant at
growing old gracefully - from our industrialists to our musicians.
And long may that continue.

Finally, while we don't like to blow our own trumpet too much,
we should point out that, for the moment, the man who heads our
list of the ten best-dressed international men calls this country
home. Can it be a coincidence?

Read more about every man who made the best-dressed list,
including thoughts from everyone from Kelly Rowland to Tom Ford, plus the ten worst-dressed men in
the world, in the new issue of British GQ, priced £3.99, available
from Thursday.

Robert Johnston

Robert Johnston is GQ Style Director, as well as our resident Style Shrink. Follow him on Twitter at @realstyleshrink.